Microlino EV Previewed in Malaysia – First in Asia, 228 KM Range, Launching in 2026

Malaysia becomes the first market in Asia to preview the Microlino EV, ahead of its planned debut later in 2026.

Besides the barrage of Chinese EVs, the local automotive scene is also witnessing several quirky and unique electric mobility solutions, be it two- or four-wheeled. One example is the electric microcar from Europe, the Microlino EV, which recently made its first appearance in Asia here in Malaysia earlier this week.

The Microlino EV is developed by a Swiss automotive company, Micro Mobility Systems, although its assembly takes place in Turin, Italy—not far from Fiat’s historic Lingotto factory. The Microlino story starts as a pre-production concept previewed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, with its production version first unveiled later in 2021.

In its current production form, dubbed Microlino 2.0, this micro EV features a unibody monocoque chassis, which the automaker claims to be the first among Europe’s heavy quadricycle segment. Also unique to the Microlino is the MacPherson suspension setup it underpins, although its rear axle is still rigid.

In terms of design, the Microlino EV looks like a modern throwback to classic European microcars, the most notable being the 1950 Isetta and the BMW 600. Some modern design cues primed here include full-width LED light bars on both ends, while its actual headlights are located on wing mirrors.

With its small overall dimensions, the Microlino EV also rolls on an equally small set of wheels, each measuring 13 inches and shod in 145/70/R13 Continental EcoContact 3 tyres. Dimension-wise, this mini EV spans 2,519 mm long, 1,473 mm wide, and 1,501 mm tall with a 1,566 mm wheelbase.

And just like the original Isetta microcar, the door for the Microlino EV is located on the front part of the car and features a soft-close function for added convenience. Once opened, it reveals a pretty packed yet sufficiently equipped cabin with a two-seater layout and a fixed steering wheel.

Accompanying the steering wheel is a small digital metre cluster, plus a rotary-style gear shifter and a physical handbrake lever—both located on the left side because the Microlino EV displayed here is a left-hand drive (LHD) unit.

There’s also a small touchscreen located on the door’s handlebar that houses essential controls and functions, such as the air blower control (fret not, the Asian-spec model will come with an on-board climate system). No on-board infotainment can be found here, but at least you’ll get a dedicated phone holder and a Bluetooth speaker, so your own mobile phone is essentially the main entertainment head unit for the car.

Despite its strictly two-seater layout, this micro EV still gets a trunk space that spans 230 litres, which is more than enough for your weekly grocery run or daily commutes.

On the powertrain front, the Microlino EV comes with several powertrain options, with the unit previewed here featuring a single, rear-mounted (RWD) electric motor rated at 17 PS (12.4 kW) and 17.9 Nm of twist, which the automaker claims to be good enough for a 0-50 km/h sprint time of five seconds and a V-max of 90 km/h.

Juicing the motor is a 15-kWh nickel cobalt aluminium (NCA) battery pack that supplies up to 228 km of WLTP range to this microcar. That said, it only accepts Type 2 AC for charging with a 2.2 kW rate that enables a 0-80% charge in 5.5 hours.

Other variants of the Microlino EV in Europe include the Lite variant, which features a much less peppy motor setup that caps its top speed to only 45 km/h, thus making it eligible for L6e licenseholders as young as 14 years old to legally drive—at least in the Old Continent.

In Malaysia, however, you are required to have a valid competent driving licence (CDL) with a minimum class of DA, just like any other normal car out there. That said, the Microlino EV is fully homologated for use in Malaysia, with these two units previewed here fully registered, although we were told that you can’t drive them on major highways.

Before you get your personal checkbooks out, the Microlino EV is yet to be launched here in Malaysia, with the sole importer and distributor of Microlino cars in Asia, Go Daddy Motorsport Autotrader, saying that it will only go on sale in the first quarter of 2026. That said, these two micro EVs are now available for rent through local car rental platform Flux for RM1,250 for five days.

As for pricing, Microlino Malaysia has yet to provide any figure for now, but we’ve been told that this micro EV retails from 17,990 Swiss francs (RM94,928) onwards in its native European market. And given that the Microlino EV is fully imported (CBU) from Italy, it will be eligible for the import and excise duties exemption, at least until the end of the year.